Best Director
Up In The Air
THE HURT LOCKER
Inglorious Basterds
Precious
Avatar
The race for Best Director is an unlikely venue for a post-marital spat, but every other nominee gets shoved aside for a duel between Kathryn Bigelow and ex-husband James Cameron. The latter eschewed storyline in favor of spectacle: His actors looked stellar in 3D, but their interactions were laughable. Meanwhile, Bigelow — first female to even come close to this auspicious award — handled her cast with aplomb while maintaining a stunning visual element. Let’s hope she comes out on top: Beating out her pretentious ex would be one giant step for bitter divorcees everywhere.
— Rebecca Erbe
Staff Writer
Best Supporting Actress
Maggie Gyllenhall
Penelope Cruz
Mo’nique
VERA FARMIGA
Anna Kendrick
Vera Farmiga’s portrayal of ballsy temptress Alex Goran in “Up in the Air” is sure to earn her the Oscar that “The Departed” failed to deliver. As the female version of Ryan Bingham (George Clooney), Farmiga trades witty banter while lending the film some much-needed eye candy (sorry Anna Kendrick). Newcomer Mo’Nique has justly earned the accolades until now, but the Academy often praises consistency over one-time performances. The Academy rewards box-office success. How else would Sandra Bullock have made the Best Actress shortlist?
— Neda Salamat
Staff Writer
Best Actor
George Clooney
JEFF BRIDGES
Colin Firth
Morgan Freeman
Jeremy Renner
This awards season, Jeff Bridges has been snatching up wins at show after show for his portrayal of washed-up country singer Bad Blake in “Crazy Heart.” There’s no reason the Academy won’t take a hint, especially considering the Dude has never scored an Oscar before. Though George Clooney’s flawless performance in “Up in the Air” as a charming corporate hitman couldn’t have been more fitting in this economic rut, it wasn’t complex enough for a little gold man. Until Clooney sucks it up and takes on a more nuanced character, my money’s on Bridges.
— Arielle Sallai
Staff Writer
Best Actress
Meryl Streep
Carey Mulligan
SANDRA BULLOCK
Helen Mirren
Gabourey Sibide
With a Golden Globe under her belt, Sandra Bullock will likely snag a statue for her role as a Southern yuppie in “The Blind Side.” Bullock’s stiffest competition comes from Meryl Streep, whose rendition of Julia Child in the semi-biopic “Julie & Julia” will rake in brownie points. But with dead-on “Bon appetit!” chortles, Amy Adams’ takes too much screentime from Streep. So, whether her commercial allure merits it, Miss Congeniality is slated to snag her first Oscar this season, making for a far more entertaining acceptance speech than pageant kitsch.
— Leila Haghighat
Staff Writer
Best Supporting Actor
Matt Damon
CHRISTOPH WALTZ
Woody Harrelson
Christopher Plummer
Stanley Tucci
It’s nice to see underdog “Inglourious Basterds” boasting a multifaceted actor in its blood-spattered holster. Christoph Waltz’s multilingual performance in Tarantino’s gorefest might as well be the only one up for nomination. Abhorrently amiable, Waltz’s silky portrayal of Jew-hating, American-butchering Col. Hans Landa is effortless and clean, bargaining, murdering and sipping on milk with remarkable efficiency in the European countryside. Opposite an asinine American hick (Brad Pitt), Waltz’s humanistic Landa stirs a moral crisis when it hits us that this charmer is a Nazi.
— Neda Salamat
Staff Writer
Best Feature
The Hurt Locker
Up
A Serious Man
Precious
Inglorious Basterds
District 9
The Blind Side
AVATAR
An Education
Up in the Air
Let’s put an end to the debate: Despite the fuss about “Inglourious Basterds,” James Cameron will be victorious. Tarantino’s entry is too eccentric, and everything else is a step back in vision; “Avatar” packs the effects and innovations to change filmmaking forever. The only legit argument against Cameron’s baby is that the plot is unoriginal — but a better word is archetypal, because it’s a foundation myth for a future legacy of 3D film. “Avatar” will win for the same reason the Saints beat the Colts: When history powers a symbol, not even a Manning or a Tarantino can stop it.
— Bryan Kim
Staff Writer
Best Animated Film
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Princess & The Frog
Coraline
UP
The Secret of Kells
Since the Pixar powerhouse out-foxed its competitors at earlier award shows, an Oscar win isn’t only probable, but imminent. Director Pete Docter’s latest boasts the colorful characters, vivid animation and hum-worthy score we’ve come to expect from the Disney-owned studio that brought us talking bugs, fish and cars. Even if this one features humans (don’t fret, there’s a crapload of chatty dogs), “Up” is the first Pixar film — if not the first children’s film — to discuss adult issues while remaining playful. Sorry Wes Anderson, looks like this one is going to the dogs.
— Neda Salamat
Staff Writer
